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Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski

Broncos defensive coordinator and former Jets defensive back Vance Joseph interviewed for the Jets’ head coaching position on Wednesday.

Denver had one of the stingiest defenses this season under Joseph, who just completed his second season as the defensive coordinator. The Broncos ranked third in points allowed and seventh in yards and takeaways.

The defense was a big reason Denver went 10-7 and reached the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons.

Joseph, who appeared in 13 games for the Jets in 1995, has coached in the NFL for 20 years. He is in his second stint with the Broncos. He was their head coach in 2017 and 2018. Joseph went 11-21. Denver was the No. 3 defense in the NFL in his first season.

He is the 10th known candidate that the Jets have interviewed for their coaching vacancy. They’ve also spoken to Ron Rivera, Mike Vrabel, Rex Ryan, Matt Nagy, Aaron Glenn, Mike Locksley, Steve Spagnuolo, Darren Rizzi and Jeff Ulbrich, who ended the season as Jets interim coach.

Vrabel was hired as the Patriots head coach earlier this week.

More names will be added to the list as the Jets are planning interviews with other candidates this week. Among them are Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Minnesota quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

The Jets are simultaneously performing a general manager search. They have interviewed 15 people for that position. They're expected to begin second interviews with their top choices.

It’s possible the Jets could hire their new general manager later in the week to allow him to take part in the second round of coaching interviews. The Jets hired The 33rd Team (a football analysis platform created by Mike Tannenbaum) to help in both searches, but ideally, the new GM will have some input on who will be the coach.

Joseph began his NFL coaching career in San Francisco as an assistant defensive backs coach. He spent the next 10 seasons as the defensive backs coach for the 49ers, Texans and Bengals.

Joseph became a defensive coordinator for the first time in 2016 in Miami under former Jets coach Adam Gase for one season. Joseph became the Broncos head coach the following year.

After being fired by Denver, Joseph was Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator for four seasons. He returned to the Broncos as Sean Payton’s defensive coordinator in 2023.

Falcons interview Ulbrich

A return to Atlanta could be in the works for Ulbrich, who interviewed for the Falcons open defensive coordinator job.

He worked for Atlanta for six seasons before becoming the Jets defensive coordinator in 2021. Ulbrich is close with Falcons coach Raheem Morris. When Morris took over as Atlanta’s interim coach in 2020, he named Ulbrich defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

Ulbrich also has been linked to the 49ers defensive coordinator position. Former Jets coach Robert Saleh, who Ulbrich replaced in October, is considered the favorite for the San Francisco job unless he’s hired as a head coach. Saleh has interviewed for the Jaguars coaching job and is scheduled to meet with the Raiders and Cowboys.

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